Book Review: Eyes of Integrity (Free Download)

Eyes of Integrity“The sheer number of people mired in the destructive world of online pornography is overwhelming. Every day lives are broken, hearts and minds are corrupted. How can we help free the many hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people trapped by sexual addiction?” 

This is the question Craig Gross attempts to answer in Eyes of Integrityand I believe he does an excellent job.

Eyes of Integrity begins with a description of how widespread porn addiction has become, not only for nonbelievers, but for those in the church as well. The book also outlines what healthy biblical sexuality and wholeness can look like for men, women, couples, and even those who are part of the pornography industry themselves.

More importantly though, Eyes of Integrity offers advice on how each of these groups can overcome (or help others overcome) the temptation of pornography by implementing practical techniques and trusting in the healing power of Christ.

The book has a heavy emphasis on accountability and the necessity for a safe community to come beside you in your struggle. Some readers, however, have misinterpreted this as a marketing strategy to sell x3watch, the accountability software produced by the author’s ministry. I must disagree with these readers though, as I whole-heartedly believe this type of accountability is vital in anyone’s recovery. I encourage you consider the author’s suggestions regardless of his involvement with the recommended product (which, consequently, is free—so there really isn’t any financial incentive to promote it).

I highly recommend you read Eyes of Integrity. I also recommend you check out Craig Gross’s ministry site, XXXchurch.com, where you will find a ton of additional resources to help you find freedom from pornography addiction.

From Amazon: As a young pastor, Craig Gross became overwhelmed with the sheer number of people he found himself counseling who were mired in the destructive world of online pornography. Their lives were broken, their hearts and minds corrupted. How, he wondered, could he minister to the many hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people trapped by sexual addiction?

Through accountability software and an online hub called XXXchurch.com, Craig began to give hope. Now, with Eyes of Integrity, he offers a helping hand to pastors, counselors, concerned friends, and those personally struggling with sexual addiction. Through these pages he and coauthor Jason Harper cover how bad the problem is and what can be done about it. From porn-proofing your home and nurturing your marriage to what to do when someone you know is in trouble, the chapters in this book offer hope in what can seem like a hopeless situation.

Smart Quote of the Week: Frank Viola

“When Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future.” —Frank Viola

Thoughts on this quote? Feel free to discuss them in the comments below.

Weekly Web (W)roundup

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Each week, we roundup the best links, articles, and videos we find that are relevant to finding freedom from pornography addiction. Please note that by posting a link here it doesn’t necessarily mean we agree with everything in the linked article. It just means we found it interesting enough to share.


Matt Fradd: How To Tell Your Fiance You Struggle With Porn

“No she doesn’t need to know, but it is her business. She’s discerning marriage with you, and therefore, it seems to me, she has a right to know (think of it as truth in advertising).”

Freedom In Christ Ministries: The Belt of Truth

“The first step in any recovery program is to face the truth and acknowledge our need for God, who alone has the power to overcome our sin.”

The Theology of the Muppets

I recently finished reading Jim Henson: The Biography and was struck by how perfectly the Muppets illustrate what Jesus teaches in John 15:

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me (John 15:4).

To abide means “to remain; to continue; to stay.” In other words, to be absolutely dependent on Christ at all times. This is, in essence, the goal of the Christian life.

Abide in Me…

Muppets Right HandOne of my favorite parts of Jim’s biography was being allowed behind the curtain to see how he brought the Muppets to life. Many of the Muppets required two performers to operate them—one to work the mouth and left hand, and a second to work the right hand (a literal “right hand man”).

In order for the Muppet to be believable as living creatures, both of the performers had to work in perfect unity. If the right hand man was even a half step behind the primary performer, the delay would be distracting and the illusion was lost. This was quite a problem until Jim came up with the perfect solution.

He would have his right hand man reach around and hold his belt loop with their free hand, connecting the two performers together and allowing them to move as one. Instead of trying to anticipate Jim’s next move, the right hand man could follow his lead subconsciously.

Likewise, instead of fretting about what Jesus wants you to do or what your next move should be, you simply need to abide in Him. Your job is to remain so closely connected to Christ that you naturally end up wherever He wants to take you.

…and I in you.

In addition to you abiding in Christ, Christ abides in you. The moment you put your trust in Jesus, you become fused with Him. His Spirit moves into your heart, filling you with His life.

Jim and KermitWhen you watch The Muppet Show, it’s obvious the human guests believe they are interacting with a living character. The conversations, especially with kids, are priceless. Even as a viewer, you often forget you are watching a piece of fabric being manipulated by a performer’s hand. The illusion of life is nothing short of magical.

But without Jim’s hand “abiding” in Kermit the Frog, the puppet has no life. It’s just a bag of green felt with some ping-pong balls glued to it. In fact, many guests would comment on how creepy it was to see muppets piled lifelessly on the floor during breaks, comparing them to corpses.

In the same way, it’s Christ within you that makes you to come alive and gives you the ability to live the Christian life. Apart from Him, you can do nothing.

You are more than a Puppet

God didn’t create you just to be a puppet for Him to control. He will always give you the freedom to make your own decisions. For example, you have the option between trying to control your own life or trusting Jesus to live His life through you. Only one of those paths will lead you to eternal life though.

If you’re trying to control life on your own, I’d encourage you to consider how well it’s working for you. If you’re being honest, it’s probably about as productive as Kermit trying to perform without Jim Henson bringing him to life.

Friends, please don’t settle for anything less than real life.

Trust Jesus to make you come alive.

Abide in Him.

Together, the two of you will create something truly magical.

10 Lies Men Believe about Porn Preview

Smart Quote of the Week: C.S. Lewis

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. —C.S. Lewis

Thoughts on this quote? Feel free to discuss them in the comments below.

Weekly Web (W)roundup

weekly_roundup-img-640x290

Each week, we roundup the best links, articles, and videos we find that are relevant to finding freedom from pornography addiction. Please note that by posting a link here it doesn’t necessarily mean we agree with everything in the linked article. It just means we found it interesting enough to share.


Covenant Eyes: Porn Culture vs. The Gospel

“The gospel says: ‘This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent’ (John 17:3).

Porn culture says: ‘This is real life, that we would not be denied our every sexual desire, no matter how misogynistic or demeaning.’”

Desiring God: Porn, Pride, and Praise

“At the root of viewing pornography is an arrogant heart that says: ‘I will have whatever I want. And if I want pictures of naked women, I am going to have it. And I don’t care if God doesn’t want it, and I don’t care if my wife doesn’t like it, and I don’t care if I might lose my ministry over it — I am going to look at it.”

Matteus Clement: Masks Off

Smart Quote of the Week: Brennan Manning

Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion. —Brennan Manning

Thoughts on this quote? Feel free to discuss them in the comments below.

Weekly Web (W)roundup

weekly_roundup-img-640x290

Each week, we roundup the best links, articles, and videos we find that are relevant to overcoming pornography addiction. Please note that by posting a link here it doesn’t necessarily mean we agree with everything in the linked article. It just means we found it interesting enough to share.


Village Church: Why Doesn’t God Just Change Me?

“Too often when we seek spiritual growth in our lives we become frustrated by the pace of progress. The changes in us can be so slow and microscopic that it may seem like they aren’t happening at all.”

Eric Geiger: 5 Things that Killing Sin is Not

“Killing of sin is a work of the Spirit, not something we can accomplish in our own merit or might.

Covenant Eyes: 5 Things My Husband Did to Rebuild Trust

“Although there were specific things Michael did that helped rebuild my trust, each action would have been meaningless apart from a foundation of true brokenness and repentance.”

Lecrae Unwraps His Joy in Jesus

Smart Quote of the Week: Francis A. Schaeffer

We are locked in a battle. This is not a friendly, gentleman’s discussion. It is a life and death conflict between the spiritual hosts of wickedness and those who claim the name of Christ. —Francis A. Schaeffer

Thoughts on this quote? Feel free to discuss them in the comments below.

Weekly Web (W)roundup

weekly_roundup-img-640x290

Each week, we roundup the best links, articles, and videos we find that are relevant to overcoming pornography addiction. Please note that by posting a link here it doesn’t necessarily mean we agree with everything in the linked article. It just means we found it interesting enough to share.


Relevant: Is Divorce Ever OK?

“Do you think it’s better to ‘stay together for the kids’ than to end a mediocre-at-best marriage? Should I just resign myself to contentment with this situation and be thankful it’s not worse?”

Freedom in Christ Ministries: Overcoming the Flesh

“Before Christ, our total person was dominated by the flesh and oriented toward sin. Now that Christ dwells within us, our hearts are oriented toward God, but we still have a remnant of propensity toward self-autonomy.”

Jon Acuff: 4 Questions Everyone Should Ask